Local entrepreneurs confident about Gaylord economy in '04

GAYLORD - Two of Gaylord's most recent entries into the entrepreneurial field are very optimistic about their success in 2004.

Adam Ptasnik, who is opening Brothers Coffee and Tea, and John and Stephanie Grish, who recently opened JS Diecast and Collectibles, expressed confidence about their Gaylord businesses in 2004.

JS Diecast and Collectibles is a bricks-and-mortar business on Main Street selling Nascar model cars and clothing. The business got its start on the Internet two years ago.

"It was always my dream to have a retail store, I just didn't know when it would happen," Grish said.

As the economy spiraled downward in 2002, Grish had an inkling that the Internet technology company he worked for - Deerfield.com - was about to make massive cuts to its 80-strong staff. He and his wife, Stephanie, started making plans to open a retail store in the event that Grish was laid off.

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"We called it Plan B, a back-up plan," Grish said.

Plan B became Plan A for Grish, and he couldn't be happier about it.

"It was something I always wanted to do, so the timing was right when I left Deerfield," he said. Grish was among the 67 people who lost jobs at Deerfield.

Understanding that Michigan is one of the last states to pull out of the economic doldrums gives Grish reason to be positive about the future.

"If we're the last to recover, that means things will only get better than they are now," he said, noting that December was an excellent month for his business.

One block east of JS Diecast and Collectibles is Brothers Coffee and Tea. Ptasnik, a recent college graduate, and his brother Aaron are hoping to be open by Jan. 6 at their Main Street location.

With specialty coffees and teas, low-carbohydrate meals, soups, salads and fresh-baked breads, Ptasnik hopes to be an integral part of the downtown Gaylord business landscape.

"There's a lot of action in downtown Gaylord, and it seems like there's a market here for us," Ptasnik said.

In addition to espresso-based coffees and natural, healthy food, Ptasnik's walls will become an extension of the Gildner Gallery in Cheboygan, an art gallery his mother operates. The business will feature the work of local artists such as Rick Kolb of Gaylord. All of the art work is for sale.

"We're looking for other local artists to display their work here," Ptasnik said.

Economists note that the scarcity of jobs in the last two years prompted a large number of Michigan residents to start their own businesses. Gaylord is probably one of the better locations in the state to undertake such a bold entrepreneurial step, according to Jim Rhein of the Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Growth.

"Otsego County and Gaylord have done fairly well, relatively speaking, probably due to the diversification of industry in the area," Rhein said. "The mix of tourism, retail and manufacturing really prevented northern areas from having a striking downturn in the local economy."

Looking at the most recent unemployment figures, Otsego County currently ranks 32nd among Michigan's 83 counties, with unemployment at 6.7 percent. Mackinac and Washtenaw counties have the lowest unemployment, at 3 and 3.1 percent respectively, and Oscoda County has the highest rate of unemployment at 11.9 percent.